How to Use Apple AirTag in Your Luggage When Traveling

Lost luggage is one of the most stressful parts of flying. Airlines lose or delay millions of bags every year, and once a bag is gone, getting it back can take days. An Apple AirTag is a small round tracker, about the size of a quarter, that you drop into your suitcase. It uses Apple's Find My network to show you exactly where your bag is on a map, anywhere in the world. Many travelers have caught airlines in mistakes thanks to AirTags, sometimes finding their bag before the airline even knew it was missing.

An AirTag costs about $29 for one or $99 for a pack of four. The battery is a small replaceable coin battery that lasts roughly a year. There is no monthly fee. AirTags work with iPhones only. If you have an Android phone, look at Tile or Samsung SmartTag instead. The Find My network uses other Apple devices passing nearby to relay the AirTag's location back to you, so the tag does not need its own internet connection. This is why AirTags work in airports, on planes, and in cargo holds.

Airlines including American, Delta, United, and Lufthansa now officially accept AirTags in checked bags and even ask passengers to share AirTag location data when filing lost luggage reports. The Federal Aviation Administration confirms AirTags are safe to fly with because their battery is small enough to meet the rules.

For best results, place the AirTag deep inside your bag, in a pocket or wrapped in clothing. This protects it from bumps and keeps it hidden from anyone who might want to remove it. Set it up before you leave home, name it something clear like Blue Suitcase, and check the Find My app whenever you want to see where your bag is. If your luggage does not show up at baggage claim, you can show the airline staff exactly where the AirTag is reporting from.